How much would you clean?

Question

We are moving in a week and leaving the furniture and window treatments behind (the buyers wanted everything). We have three cats. The bottoms of the curtains and furniture have cat hair from them constantly walking by and rubbing against them. I have lint rolled the curtains, but it is not all coming out. You know how pet hair ends up down in the fibers.

How much time would you spend trying to get it out? It is hard to be motivated to clean something you are leaving behind, especially since we expect to have to clean everything in the house we are moving into.

Answer 1

If they did not specify in the contract that they wanted the furniture and draperies cleaned, then you don't have to clean them. If they expected a professional quality steam clean, like new, move in ready appearance they should have specified.

I would wipe them down damp cloth or lint roller them and leave be. If the curtains are washable, and I *had* time I would likely wash them and rehang them wet. (We have panel curtains or tab-tops and it's easiest and provides the best results to just let them air dry right on the rod.) If they are dry clean, they stay as is.

I would never ask for furnishings. I would only ask for window treatments if they were custom made for the room and could be regarded as part of the 'architecture' they were so pertinent. I would expect to do routine cleaning to any home I move into from top to bottom. I think everybody does. It's part of making the new home yours.

Answer 2

do your best to get it out but they will probably clean again anyway.

Answer 3

I would clean it to a good standard.  Like you, the prospective tenants are probably thinking they will have to clean when they move in and it will be a nice surprise if everything is **** and span for them!  Do as you would be done to..... :)

Answer 4

As a real estate agent, our contracts always call for "broom clean condition".  And looking at some of the homes at closing, I wonder if they ever even SAW a broom, much less used one recently!  At my own closings on my own homes, I cleaned to "eat off the floor" clean, not because of any expectation of anyone BUT myself!  I did it to make sure no one would be whining at the closing table after a walk through, saying I was a pig or thinking I was one!  But thats me and my OCD kicking in!  For clients, I say, clean it as if they were going to take pictures and show your Mom.  If it doesn't show up on film, then you're done!  LOL!  What you have to clean on the other end, has NOTHING to do with what you leave behind or don't do on this end.  Having to pack and move, well, we all have to pack and move moving in, so that doesn't mean much either, having a 7 month old....its your baby, take them with you too!  Be reasonable, vacuum, sweep, wipe it down and go!  Congrats on the new baby and the new home!  

Answer 5

If they want it, it's as is. Do a quick go-over. I'm sure they'll want to dry clean and have the furniture cleaned anyway. So they can do that the first week they move in.

Answer 6

As soon as you are moved out with the stuff you are taking I'd give everything a really good vacuuming. That should take care of the majority of the cat hair. I'm sure they already saw the house and they no your stuff is used. Don't make yourself crazy over cleaning it.